Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This was the first Murder, She Wrote novel I've read. I very much enjoyed the cozy feeling and the storylines with the characters. I'll continue the series.
Can I just be Jessica Fletcher and live in Cabot Cove? That would be great. I really enjoyed this book. I love the characters, the setting, the atmosphere...just everything! The murder didn't actually take place until halfway through the book. That would turn a lot of people off, but honestly, it didn't bother me that much. I enjoyed roaming about the town and getting to know Jessica's friends and neighbors. I also enjoyed getting to know Jessica's low-key beau, George. A Scotland Yard Inspector who comes to town for the very American holiday. Those two are just adorable together. If Jessica ever decides to settle down again, I hope it is with that nice chap.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was really not good. And I know, I know...going to Murder She Wrote and expecting "good" is an ask. BUT, I love a silly seasonal sluethy cozy mystery- it's akin to eating junk food. This tore my gut up about as much as cool ranch corn chips do. This was just awful. Jessica Fletcher, well known single lady, was NEVER about romance. UGH. This author got my Blanche Deveroux mixed up with my Jessica Fletcher. Okay, a bit of hyperbole, maybe, but the scattered bits of romance (sometimes large chunks. Not sure if they came from the book or my throat) caused me to skim the last 50 pages or so just to confirm that I'd more than figured out the killer and the mystery letters. In fact, the crime was SO obvious-I'd determined the victim, killer, reason, and mystery letters before the crime even occurred. It was one of the worst cozy mysteries I've ever read.
medium-paced
2.5 - I was down for the Thanksgiving Dinner based murder mystery, not so much for the geriatric love triangle.
Jessica finds herself in the midst of a busy Thanksgiving holiday season. She is hosting her friend from Scotland (who wishes to experience the USA holiday and he has a crush on Jessica besides).
Jessica notices an unknown stranger hanging around. He appears homeless and no one knows him. Is he following her? If so why? She feels pity for the stranger and invites him to join her for Thanksgiving dinner....he ends up murdered! With Jessica's long time friend Seth's knife in his body. As Jessica tries to unravel this holiday mystery, the stranger's story leads her in a direction she never expected.
Jessica notices an unknown stranger hanging around. He appears homeless and no one knows him. Is he following her? If so why? She feels pity for the stranger and invites him to join her for Thanksgiving dinner....he ends up murdered! With Jessica's long time friend Seth's knife in his body. As Jessica tries to unravel this holiday mystery, the stranger's story leads her in a direction she never expected.
I've read better books in this series, but the book was entertaining and I enjoyed the Thanksgiving setting.
A fun mystery, cozy at times. Darker than most cozy mysteries though. Jessica Fletcher is awesome. I love the way she runs around town and is learning to fly an airplane. She is a paragon of an independent, active woman who does what she wants and what she thinks is best.
The story follows her trying to get ready for a Thanksgiving feast, while she is also hosting her “maybe” boyfriend from London. He is an investigator with the Scotland Yard. Of course there is a whole slew of characters that round out the eccentricities of a small town, and a collection of newcomers that add intrigue and even more mystery. Including a man named Billups that everyone calls “homeless” because he wanders the streets, watches houses and people, and looks “crazy”. (In reality he is not. SPOILER: he was beaten to a pulp by a mobster and had his brains scrambled. It was a very sad part of the story). Billups is often standing outside Jessica’s house and staring, causing some spooky vibes because we do not know his backstory yet. So while Billups is standing vigil, Jessica is receiving weird pieces of mail where there is one letter cut out from a magazine and sent to her day by day… it is creepy to be honest. It is later revealed why this is happening, but in the meantime it adds to the creepy ambience. Of course while dealing with all of this, Jessica is trying to finish her latest novel but she is suffering from writer’s block.
A Fatal Feast perfectly encapsulates the stress of holidays while working or in school… trying to meet deadlines while also organizing a Thanksgiving feast while also running around town to events while also entertaining visitors while also solving mysteries?! Jessica has her work cut out for her and of course she solves it all and succeeds. She is rarely wrong. Overall a good book. Dark and spooky at times and it creeped me out. I don’t think I would re-read, but I’m glad I read it.
The story follows her trying to get ready for a Thanksgiving feast, while she is also hosting her “maybe” boyfriend from London. He is an investigator with the Scotland Yard. Of course there is a whole slew of characters that round out the eccentricities of a small town, and a collection of newcomers that add intrigue and even more mystery. Including a man named Billups that everyone calls “homeless” because he wanders the streets, watches houses and people, and looks “crazy”. (In reality he is not. SPOILER: he was beaten to a pulp by a mobster and had his brains scrambled. It was a very sad part of the story). Billups is often standing outside Jessica’s house and staring, causing some spooky vibes because we do not know his backstory yet. So while Billups is standing vigil, Jessica is receiving weird pieces of mail where there is one letter cut out from a magazine and sent to her day by day… it is creepy to be honest. It is later revealed why this is happening, but in the meantime it adds to the creepy ambience. Of course while dealing with all of this, Jessica is trying to finish her latest novel but she is suffering from writer’s block.
A Fatal Feast perfectly encapsulates the stress of holidays while working or in school… trying to meet deadlines while also organizing a Thanksgiving feast while also running around town to events while also entertaining visitors while also solving mysteries?! Jessica has her work cut out for her and of course she solves it all and succeeds. She is rarely wrong. Overall a good book. Dark and spooky at times and it creeped me out. I don’t think I would re-read, but I’m glad I read it.